I have been asked to put together a set of songs suitable for a Trafalgar Night dinner here in Shanghai.

The challenge to me is to come up with a set of songs that a group of (possibly drunk, at least in their cups) business men could easily learn. Some will be from the UK others from the other countries that make up the ex-pat community here.

I am looking for ones which could be familiar to at least the Brits and ones that have an easy tune and hopefully a good chorus.

Not exactly 'community singing' pieces but "Aboard a '98'" or "On board of a Man o' War" might go well or try Kipling's "Poor Honest Men" and, of course, there's always versions of "Rule Britannia". I suppose 'The Death of Nelson' is fairly obvious as a final piece.

As for verse, 'The Boy Stood On the Burning Deck' relates to a 'Nelsonian' incident (Destruction of [i]L'Orient[/i] at the Battle of the Nile).

As for quotes, try John Jervis (Earl St Vincent) - in the House of Lords - regarding Napoleon: "I do not say he cannot come, Merely that he cannot come by sea".

But Heart of Oak (as sung by David Garrick) was very popular in the navy at that time, you know. I was astounded that in Master & Commander (which didn't care for) they sang Bonny Ship the Diamond but not Heart of Oak!

You could do worse than "The Mariner's Compass Is Grog" from 1808. I've recently revived this fine drinking song, channeled a tune since the original was lost, and recorded it on a recent CD. Here are the lyrics:

By John Holland, circa 1808 In a production called 'The Two Little Savoyards' put on at the Adelphi Theatre in 1808. In Real Sailor-Songs, p. 255; adapted by Charlie Ipcar and with new tune in 2002 Key: F (5/C) The Mariner's Compass

C---------------------------------G Sam Spritsail's a lad you'd delight in, -----C-----------------------G For friendship he's ever a-gog, -----------C---------------------------------------G Loves his King, loves his wench, and loves fighting, ---------C------------G-------------C And he loves, to be sure, his old grog! -----------------------------------F Says Sam, "Life's but a mere notion, -----C-------------------------G That wants from the spirit a jog, -----C---------------------------G This world is a wide troubled ocean, ----------C----------G-----------C And the Mariner's Compass is grog!"

Chorus:

C---------------------------------F For grog is our larboard and starboard, -----C---------------------------G Our mains'l, our mizzen, our log; ---C-------------------------G At sea or a-shore, or when harbour'd, ----C-----------G------------C The Mariner's Compass is grog!

Let grog take charge of the helm, Sir, We'll fear not the rage of the sea, Or if billows our ship o'erwhelm, Sir, Still grog is the pilot for me! Grog saves us the trouble of thinking, So here's to each bold jolly dog, And you who delights in good drinking, Let's toss off a full can of grog! (CHO)

Sam Spritsail loves his grog dearly, Enraptur'd its praises he'll sing, Yet he fights for his country most cheerily, Loves his sweetheart and honours his King; Sam's heart is splic'd to his Nancy's, And his love would blaze through the fog, Yet sailors have comical fancies, And dear be his wench, he loves grog! (CHO) (Anon., Real Sailor-Songs, p. 255)

THE MARINERS' COMPASS (original)

Sam Spritsail's a lad you'd delight in, For friendship, he's ever agog, Loves his King, loves his wench, loves fighting, And he loves, to be sure he does, grog! Says Sam, says he, life's all a notion, And wants from the spirit a jog, The world is a wide troubled ocean, And our rudder and compass is grog!

Chorus:

For grog is our larboard and starboard, Our mainsail, our mizzen, our log; At sea or at shore, or when harbour'd, The Mariners' Compass is grog!

Let but grog take its charge of the helm, We perceive not the dangers of sea, Or if billows the vessel o'erwhelm, Still grog is the pilot for me; Since grog saves the trouble of thinking, Then here's to each bold jolly dog, For he that delights in good drinking, Will toss off his full can of grog! (CHO)

Sam Spritsail, though grog he lov'd dearly, And its praise he enraptur'd would sing, Yet he fought for his country most cheerly, Lov'd his sweetheart and honour'd his King; For Sam's heart was splic'd to his Nancy's, And his mind on the wench quite agog, Yet sailors have comical fancies, And dear as his Nance, he loves grog! (CHO)

Shanties were not sung in the Royal Navy as work songs but singing was allowed during off duty time in port. The reason that singing was not allowed is that orders might need to be given during any manuover and needed to be obeyed instantly, the sound of singing could mask the order. Saying that the standard of training was very high in the Royal Navy. It is said that Captain Hardy of the victory could control the sailing of the ship using hand signals alone.

I am going to Portsmouth tomorrow to take part in the re-enactment on tuesday.

Work song of the RN Photographer.....Git out of my shot! Bloody civvie press, 1SL when?, now? Find an Astra that flies!, but I don't speak Japanese, Russian, French, Dutch, G'day! (Thank god for the Aussies). Wow! the Potugal tall ship can show the tug master a thing! Hang on, I'll just fit a warp drive to the Disco, 600mm lens,....what...? raw files?....you want the image when?...Video, from a helo.............HELP!

Searched, and found this in 'The Dynasts' (Thomas Hardy) although I am sure I recall longer version from school. I realise it's not Nelson, but the cause of battle is much the same!

Nigel

We be the King's men, hale and hearty, Marching to meet one Buonaparty; If he won't sail, lest the wind should blow, We shall have marched for nothing, O! Right fol-lol!

We be the King's men, hale and hearty, Marching to meet one Buonaparty; If he be sea-sick, says "No, no!" We shall have marched for nothing, O! Right fol-lol!

The above is as found on the net. I remember learning it in school as:

We be the King's men, hale and hearty, - oh. We be the King's men, hale and hearty, Marching to meet one Buonaparty; If he be sea-sick, says "No, no!" We shall have marched for nothing, O! Right fol-lol-lol-o! Right fol-lol-lol-o! Right fol-lol-lol-o! Right fol-lol-lol-o!

Thanks for the suggestions so far. I knew Heart of Oak was not actually of the period but it is a well known song and fits the theme for the evening.

I like the monlogue Gunner Joe too, it will add a touch of levity.

Thank's Charly for the Mariners Compass, I had not seen that one before.

With regards wildlone's comment about singing, I think that more applied to whistling as a bosun's whistle was generally used to pipe orders and other people whistling could prove a distraction. The only person who was said to be allowed to whistle was the cook, if he was whistling he could not be scoffing the food he was preparing.

Thanks again folks, I will let you know what I am going to use and also let you know how it goes. In keeping with the nautical PC, any French guests will be called 'Blue'

"...With regards wildlone's comment about singing, I think that more applied to whistling as a bosun's whistle was generally used to pipe orders and other people whistling could prove a distraction. The only person who was said to be allowed to whistle was the cook, if he was whistling he could not be scoffing the food he was preparing...."

There was also the superstitious point that whistling was traditionally believed to be part of the ceremony for summoning the Devil <1>, who always arrived in a gale of wind<2> and was therefore to be discouraged.

I note from the DT that "On board a Man O'War" is in the database as "The Press Gang". "Aboard a 98" is from the works of Peter Bellamy.

When did the Fenians ever sing "God save the Queen", "Land of Hope and Glory" or "Jerusalem" for a bit of balance?

Go and watch (or heckle) the marches and leave this celebration to us English (OK, we might let the Scots and Welsh join in - and the Ulstermen, too, but only if they promise to keep quiet and behave themselves)

Currently researching Alex Atterson's setting of the Charles Causley poem about Nelson's corpse in its barrel of brandy. Will revert if successful.

"...cos if Nelson hadn't staved off mutinies in '97 there would've never been a Trafalgar, I suspect..."

But Nelson had nthing to do with either the Spithead or the Nore mutinies - He was in the Med at the time. Oh yes, and the mutineers had declared that if the French were sighted, they would sail and fight. The mutinies were more in the nature of a strike ove pay and conditions than a full blown mutiny.

I would commend you to seek out the poem "The Ballad of the Good Lord Nelson" by Laurence Durrell, it can (with a little bit of jemmying) fit the tune " Princess Royal", here is a Flavour " The Good Lord Nelson had a Swollen Gland Little of the scriptures did he understand 'Till a woman led him to the promised land on board the Victory, Victory O

Now stiff on a pillar with a phallic air Nelson stylites in Trafalgar Square reminds the British what once they were on board the Victory, Victory O

If they'd treat their women in the Nelson way Ther'ed be fewer frigid husbands every day and many more heroes on the Bay of Biscay on board the Victory, Victory O Laurence Durrell

"...That many of the French/ Spanish? were ill and had been at sea for some time..."

I think the point was that, because of the close blockade (and Napoleon's lack of interest in matters maritime), a large proportion of the French fleet HADN'T been to sea in some time (I believe the Spanish may have had got more sea time in). As I recall, the "Trafalgar Campaign" began with a co-ordinated Franco-Spanish break out during bad weather and a race West into the Atlantic with a 'U' turn to escape pursuit, bringing the back to Southern Spain.

"...That Nelson and his men were "up for it" and more than ready..."

For the crews of Men o'War on blockade, any break in routine would be welcome, one that gave them the possibility of prize money (or if the enemy sank, at least 'head money'), doubly so.

Some other singable (and drink-amenable songs)of the ilk are -- Ben Backstay -- Don't Forget Your Old Shipmate (also sung in Master and Commander) -- Roast Beef of Old England

Nigel refers to Thomas Hardy's 'The Dynasts'. On Brass Monkey's CD 'The Complete Brass Monkey' they perform "The Night Of Trafalgar", saying Hardy wrote the lyrics for The Dynasts. Brass Monkey's own Howard Even composed the tune they use. Here's Martin Carthy's notes:

"Thomas Hardy's loathing of war and all that it does to people is nicely placed in this song from his mighty and unperformed work 'The Dynasts', where fishermaen who have a very hard life indeed consider themselves blessed in comparison to the men of the battlefleet at Trafalgar who, having endured the hardships of battle with enormous numbers of dead and wounded, had then to cope with a huge storm which, by all accounts, took more lives than the battle itself."

There are a bunch of obscure Nelson-era Navy songs on my CD "Roast Beef of Old England".

"Blow Nelson Blow" is a rousing old Trinidadian folksong, commemorating an incident just before Trafalgar when Nelson's fleet just failed to catch Villeneuve in the Caribbean. An extraordinary voyage: Villeneuve got out, ran for the West Indies, and Nelson went after him. He had no hard information, but with his knowledge and deduction he sailed to the Caribbean himself, nosed around and very nearly caught up with the French, who were criss-crossing the area. Villeneuve eventually shot back to Spain, and came out again to meet Nelson at Trafalgar. Villeneuve, lost the battle, but survived himself, to die ignominiously in strange circumstances shortly after. The song "Blow Nelson Blow" goes to a version of the dancetune Waltz Vienna(or Varsoviana). I havent looked but I'm sure it must be locatable in the DT or elsewhere on the net. It makes a nice contrast to the Yo ho ho brave lads blue jumper school of nautical music.

I have the same duty here in "supernatural" British Columbia,Canada, to prepare an evening of entertainment for 300 guests Trafalgar Night (including naval personnel, reserve), mixed ex pats. and others. I will trade you a faintly rude dialogue beween Hardy and Nelson (for a lighter note and for your prose pieces) for the music of Nelson's Praise (originally the Princess or Princes Royal) which I know but cannot find a score for my singers. Ditto "Blow Nelson Blow".... any offers?!

I was going to mention on the evening, as a segue, (in my script for the readers) that Canada and Vancouver are redolent with names from Nelson's time, and that Nelson visited Quebec (French!) and enjoyed it immensely -he said he felt extremely well there... Anyway, we have a Collingwood area both in Ontario and here, a Minto in New Brunswick, and many places are named after Nelson and Trafalgar etc. Maybe in Shanghai too?!

I LIKE Admiral Collingwood - justly loved by his men and with an eye for the future. He used to walk around his estate with a pocketful of acorns to plant - when someone asked him why he answered that he was 'planting the Royal Navy'. Great man!

SECOND BURGHER Now how did they bring him home so that he could lie in state afterwards to the naked eye!

FIRST BOATMAN Well, as they always do,--in a cask of sperrits.

SECOND BURGHER Really, now!

FIRST BOATMAN (lowering his voice) But what happened was this. They were a long time coming, owing to contrary winds, and the "Victory" being little more than a wreck. And grog ran short, because they'd used near all they had to peckle his body in. So--they broached the Adm'l!

SECOND BURGHER How?

FIRST BOATMAN Well; the plain calendar of it is, that when he came to be unhooped, it was found that the crew had drunk him dry. What was the men to do? Broke down by the battle, and hardly able to keep afloat, 'twas a most defendable thing, and it fairly saved their lives. So he was their salvation after death as he had been in the fight. If he could have knowed it, 'twould have pleased him down to the ground! How 'a would have laughed through the spigot-hole: "Draw on, my hearties! Better I shrivel that you famish." Ha-ha!

SECOND BURGHER It may be defendable afloat; but it seems queer ashore.

FIRST BOATMAN Well, that's as I had it from one that knows--Bob Loveday of Overcombe--one of the "Victory" men that's going to walk in the funeral. However, let's touch a livelier string. Peter Green, strike up that new ballet that they've lately had prented here, and were hawking about town last market-day.

SONG THE NIGHT OF TRAFALGAR I

In the wild October night-time, when the wind raved round the land, And the Back-sea(12) met the Front-sea, and our doors were blocked with sand, And we heard the drub of Dead-man's Bay, where bones of thousands are, We knew not what the day had done for us at Trafalgar. (All) Had done, Had done, For us at Trafalgar! ...........

The "Caramagnole" and "Ça Ira" were out of favour under the Empire, "Velon(?) au Salute de L'Empire" was in.

You could try "Le Chant du Depart" a favourite with the 'Army of Italy' but likely to have made the transfer to sea, it's a good marching tune (remember marching pace is 80 paces/min, same as the Foreign Legion these days). There are some more early (Army) songs which may have crossed over, one about piercing the flank and another who's chorus seems to revolve around 'I like onions fried in oil' ("J'aime l'oignons frits en huile" ? - I'm sorry, I know some bits phonetically, but I neither speak nor write French.

I have been following your suggestions (for Shanghaiceltic) with interest as well (see above note). Thanks. Does anyone know where to obtain music for "Bold Nelson's Praise?" which appears to come originally from a little-known opera? Ta very much for help...

In the wild October night-time, when the wind raved round the land, And the Back-sea met the Front-sea, and our doors were blocked with sand, And we heard the drub of Dead-man's Bay, where bones of thousands are, We knew not what the day had done for us at Trafalgar.

II

"Pull hard, and make the Nothe, or down we go!" one says, says he. We pulled; and bedtime brought the storm; but snug at home slept we. Yet all the while our gallants after fighting through the day, Were beating up and down the dark, sou'-west of Cadiz Bay.

III

The victors and the vanquished then the storm it tossed and tore, As hard they strove, those worn-out men, upon that surly shore; Dead Nelson and his half-dead crew, his foes from near and far, Were rolled together on the deep that night at Trafalgar!

I came across this while researching the subject about 18 months ago, can't remember the source though!

French Report of Trafalgar From The Naval Chronicle, Vol. XIV, July to December 1805 The English fleet is annihilated! Nelson is no more! Indignant at being inactive in port, whilst our brave brethren in arms were gaining laurels in Germany, Admirals Villeneuve and Gravina resolved to put to sea, and give the English battle. They were superior in number, forty-five to our thirty-three; but what is superiority in numbers to men determined to conquer? Admiral Nelson did every thing to avoid a battle; he attempted to get into the Mediterranean, but we pursued, and came up with him off Trafalgar. The French and Spaniards vied with each other who should first get into action. Admirals Villeneuve and Gravina were both anxious to lay their Ships alongside the Victory, the English Admiral's Ship. Fortune, so constant always to the Emperor, did not favour either of them - the Santissima Trinidada was the fortunate Ship. In vain did the English Admiral try to evade an action: the Spanish Admiral Oliva prevented his escape, and lashed his Vessel to the British Admiral. The English Ship was one of 136 guns; the Santissima Trinidada was but a 74. Lord Nelson adopted a new system: afraid of combating us in the old way, in which he knows we have a superiority of skill he attempted a new mode of fighting. For a short time they disconcerted us; but what can long disconcert his Imperial Majesty's arms? We fought yard-arm to yard-arm, gun to gun. Three hours did we fight in this manner: the English began to be dismayed - they found it impossible to resist us; but our brave sailors were tired of this slow means of gaining a victory; they wished to board; the cry was, "à la bordage!" Their impetuosity was irresistible At that moment two Ships, one French and one Spanish, boarded the Temeraire: the English fell back in astonishment and affright - we rushed to the flag-staff - struck the colours - and all were so anxious to be the bearer of the intelligence to their own Ship, that they jumped overboard; and the English ship, by this unfortunate impetuosity of our brave sailors and allies, was able, by the assistance of two more Ships that came to her assistance, to make her escape in a sinking state. Meanwhile Nelson still resisted us. It was now who should first board, and have the honour of taking him, French or Spaniard - two Admirals on each side disputed the honour - they boarded his Ship at the same moment - Villeneuve flew to the quarterdeck - with the usual generosity of the French, he carried a brace of pistols in his hands, for he knew the Admiral had lost his arm, and could not use his sword - he offered one to Nelson: they fought, and at the second fire Nelson fell; he was immediately carried below. Oliva, Gravina, and Villeneuve, attended him with the accustomed French humanity. Meanwhile, fifteen of the English Ships of the line had struck their colours - four more were obliged to follow their example - another blew up. Our victory was now complete, and we prepared to take possession of our prizes; but the elements were this time unfavourable to us; a dreadful storm came on - Gravina made his escape to his own Ship at the beginning of it - the Commander in Chief, Villeneuve, and a Spanish Admiral, were unable, and remained on board the Victory. The storm was long and dreadful; our Ships being so well manœuvered, rode out the gale; the English being so much more damaged, were driven ashore and many of them wrecked. At length, when the gale abated, thirteen sail of the French and Spanish line got safe to Cadiz; the other twenty have, no doubt, gone to some other port, and will soon be heard of. We shall repair our damages as speedily as possible, go again in pursuit of the enemy, and afford them another proof of our determination to wrest from them the empire of the seas, and to comply with his Imperial Majesty's demand of Ships, Colonies, and Commerce. Our loss was trifling, that of the English was immense. We have, however, to lament the absence of Admiral Villeneuve, whose ardour carried him beyond the strict bounds of prudence, and, by compelling him to board the English Admiral's Ship, prevented him from returning to his own. After having acquired so decisive a victory, we wait with impatience the Emperor's order to sail to the enemy's shore, annihilate the rest of his navy, and thus complete the triumphant work we have so brilliantly begun.

posted on an Oz folk list today - BBC radio program, I did a quick search on Trafalgar & didn't see any reference, if I missed it, pls accept my apologies!

...................

I've just been listening to a remarkable programme on songs which would have been sung by lower deck seamen at the time of the battle of Trafalgar.

There were one or two 'orrible gaffs, which are outweighed by the fact that the programme was compiled entirely from recordings in the Topic archive. Catherine Bott, the programme's presenter, didn't say so, but I imagine this meant the holdings which Topic deposited at the National Sound Archive.

Anyway, the programme assembled Bert Lloyd, Roy Harris, Bob Harte, Cyril Poacher, Frankie Armstrong, Sam Larner, in fact the whole motley crew, with the strange and lamentable absence of Ewan MacColl. Even more important, it presented recordings which went right back to the early days of Topic microgroove - IE., those 8" LPs which Topic used to press - and included stuff I have certainly never heard before.

You will find the programme stowed away at http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/aod/mainframe.shtml?http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/aod/radio3_promo.shtml and you'll need to 'list on The Early Music Show berth. NB., it's the Sun button you want, not the Sat. It lasts for one hour, and will be available for seven days from the time of transmision.

Moreover, Catherine Bott has asked people to request similar material. I didn't catch the email address, but it's at the end of the programme. So bend on your oars me hearties. Launch out the emails and fire off the broadsides.

Replying to a comment from a number of years ago, I am very certain that "Bonny Ship the Diamond" was not sung in the film "Master and Commander". They sang a number of other things, but not that. 1) I've seen the film 17 times. If it were in there, I'd know. 2) "Bonny Ship.." is a favorite of mine. Again, if it were in there, I'd know it. 3) It's not AT ALL in period -- it's much later than 1802-ish when the film takes place (I recall that Nelson is still alive; Aubrey isn't talking about him as if he were 'late' and Blakeney asks what sort of man is he, rather than was he).

If Gunner Joe was written in 1933, why does it mention "an egg for his tea" and " the sailors saved up their coupons". These references suggest rationing but this did not come in until after 1940. Any thoughts?